We all have reason to be thankful: Sun News editorial

Today is Thanksgiving Day, a day to celebrate all for which we are thankful and to enjoy the company of our relatives. Unfortunately, too many people have taken to viewing today as Black Friday Eve and spend time not counting their blessings with their families, but calculating the savings they can realize as they scan the numerous department store circulars and map out their strategy to hit all the stores and get the best bargains possible.

And some retailers are doing Thanksgiving a disservice by kicking off their Black Friday specials on Thanksgiving night, denying their employees the opportunity to spend a holiday with their loved ones so they can rake in a few extra dollars. We understand how important Black Friday is for retailers, but retailers should not lose sight of the importance of Thanksgiving in their never-ending pursuit to turn a profit.

Thanksgiving should hold special meaning for all of us, but even if you are using today to prepare for Black Friday, take a moment or two today to reflect on all for which we should be thankful, and there is plenty we can be thankful for this year.

You may not like all the members of your family, but be thankful you have family with whom you can enjoy the holidays. A lot of people have no family to share these special times with, and others will be feeling a void this year and forever more as departed sisters and brothers, mothers and fathers, aunts and uncles are not at the dinner table and will never be there again.

You may not particularly like all the food on the table for your Thanksgiving feast, but be thankful there is food on the table this Thanksgiving. Too many people will go hungry through the holidays and will not have a warm meal to enjoy today or any day.

You may not like everything about your home or apartment, but be thankful you have a roof over your head and a warm bed in which to sleep at night. Many people have been forced out of their homes due to foreclosures and other difficult circumstances and spend their nights in homeless shelters or out on the cold streets.

You probably do not like everything about your job and you likely wish you could get a boost in your salary, but be thankful you are employed and are generating a steady income. In this country, 8 percent of the workforce is without a job and would give anything to get back to work and stop collecting unemployment checks.

You may not like how things turned out in the just-concluded election, either at the national level or in more local races, but be thankful you had an opportunity to make your voice heard and vote for the people you want to lead you. In so many countries around the world, citizens have no chance to elect their leaders and they must accept whatever regime is in place, no matter how brutal and oppressive it is.

You may wish police response time to your emergency was quicker, but be thankful we have strong law enforcement officers in our area who have no tolerance for criminal behavior and are committed to keeping us safe every day. In other parts of the world, the police are feared because they have little interest in protecting the citizens and are more committed to carrying out the sinister wishes of a ruthless dictator and looking the other way as criminals run rampant.

Be thankful for your good health, if you are so fortunate, and say a prayer for those who are ailing this holiday season. Be thankful for the men and women serving overseas in the military to ensure we continue to live in peace and enjoy the freedoms we often take for granted.

We as a society are quick to look at what we don’t have and be critical of those things. Instead, we should take a few minutes to look around and realize all we do have. Do that today, and you are sure to have a Happy Thanksgiving.

That’s what we think. Share your opinion on this editorial or other topics by sending a letter to the editor to rjablonski@sunnews.com, faxing your letter to (216) 986-2340 or mailing it to Ray Jablonski, Sun News East Group editor, 5510 Cloverleaf Parkway, Cleveland, 44125. All letters must include the author’s name, city and a daytime phone number for verification.

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